"Everything starts from a dot."
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Easy Zentangle Patterns - Flower Craft
This beautiful flower craft, with easy Zentangle® patterns, is a super fun way to get creative with your kids during the Spring and Summer. This flower craft also makes a gorgeous gift and greeting card for special occasions too such as Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Day and birthdays.
Our flower craft for kids was inspired by the world-renowned abstract artist, Wassily Kandinsky. One of his most popular works is his Squares with Concentric Circles painting, which our flowers closely resemble.
We then used 5 easy Zentangle flower patterns to add some movement and depth to our rainbow flower craft. You don’t have to use all 5 easy Zentangle patterns in your flower craft and you can even create your own patterns if you prefer.
Encourage your students/children to experiment with different line designs and doodles as they create their masterpieces.
What is a Zentangle Pattern?
Zentangles are based on a theory created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. The word Zentangle originates from the word “zen” meaning calm, and “tangle” meaning a collection of overlapping patterns.
Zentangles not only promote concentration and creativity, but they are also known to increase personal well-being; they are meditative in nature.
Zentangles are beautiful patterns that both children and adults can learn and produce.
Another important fact that you should be aware of when you’re drawing Zentangles patterns is that there are no mistakes. Every line, even those accidental ones, can be interwoven into your overall pattern.
Every line has a purpose and a function. There are no mistakes 🙂
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What are the Basic Zentangle Strokes?
Zentangles are composed of 5 basic strokes. A combination of these 5 strokes can be found in every pattern. They include:
- Dot
- Circle
- Curve
- Line
- S-shaped line
These 5 strokes are formally known as the “Elemental Strokes” in all Zentangle art.
Creating Zentangles is simple to learn and practice; practically anyone can do it! If you love Zentangles as much as we do or if you’d like more tangling tips, Zentangle freebies, video tutorials and activities, be sure to take a look at these other blog posts:
- Zentangles (Free Tangle Starters) – Patterns for Beginners (part 1 in my Zentangle pattern series)
- Beginner Zentangle Patterns – (part 2 in my Zentangle pattern series)
- Zentangle Patterns Easy – (part 3 in my Zentangle patterns series)
- Zentangles for Beginners (easy) – Mindful Art
- Flextangles Paper Toys (Free Printable Templates)
What is a Zentangle Step-out?
Zentangles can seem intimidating because some designs appear to be intricate in composition, but remember every Zentangle pattern can be broken down into simple steps. A Zentangle step-out does just that!
A Zentangle step-out illustrates the simple drawing steps required to create a Zentangle pattern.
I’ve drawn the step-outs for the easy Zentangle patterns that we used in our flower craft. The patterns that I chose are floral in nature to complement our flower theme.
Benefits of Creating this Flower Craft
This flower craft will help your kids develop many skills. Here are just a few of the benefits of creating this art piece:
- Helps with hand-eye coordination
- Can improve fine motor skills
- Cutting practice
- Kids can learn colors and counting
- Provides a healthy screen break
Tips for making these Rainbow Flowers
- If you’re doing this craft with younger students, you could cut the circles ahead of time and have them add simple doodle lines if the Zentangle patterns are too difficult.
- We used all of the colors of the rainbow in our art work but your kids can decide which colors they’d like to use and in which order.
- Explore different shapes! Who said all of your flowers need to be round? You can experiment with triangles, octagons, ovals etc. Go crazy!
- When you bend the circles to create the flower petals, I suggest that you hold the center of the circle as you do it. Little ones might need help with this step.
Step by Step Tutorial
Appropriate for Children Ages 5 and up
Difficulty: Easy
Total Time: 2 x 25 minute blocks
Materials:
- Micron Pens for drawing your Zentangles and patterns, or you could also use Ultra Fine Point colored Sharpie markers/fine tip markers
- White Cardstock or blank paper (8 1/2 X 11)- we printed our shamrock coloring page on cardstock
- Rainbow colored paper 1 sheet for each color of the rainbow (8 1/2 X 11)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Buttons/gems
- Pencil for shading
- Tortillion for blending (optional)
- Eraser (optional)
- Zentangle flower patterns/step-outs (found above)
Instructions:
Step 1 – Cut your paper
- Cut each 8 ½ X 11 piece of colored paper into 4 equal sections. Each section can become a flower
Step 2 – Draw, cut and glue your circles together.
1. Freehand or use a circle tracer to draw a small circle on your small piece of purple paper. Our circle was about the size of a quarter. Then cut little slits around the circle to create petals.
2. Glue the purple circle on top of the indigo paper. Cut the indigo paper into a circle leaving enough space to cut petals.
3. Repeat these steps of gluing and cutting the other papers in reverse rainbow order: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red.
4. After you’ve made one flower, you can make a few more flowers using your remaining paper. You can try starting with red in the center, as your smallest circle this time.
5. While holding the center of your flower, fold the petals a little bit to create some dimension
Step 3 – Create Stems and Glue
- Cut thin green strips of paper for stems or draw stems directly onto your paper.
- Glue your stems and rainbow flowers onto your white cardstock.
Step 4 – Add Zentangle Patterns
- Using the Zentangle step-outs from above, add a few Zentangle flowers between your rainbow flowers.
Step 5 – Shade
- Using a pencil and a tortillion, gently shade your Zentangle flowers. You can outline your flower petals with pencil and then use the tortillion to blend the pencil throughout the petal
Step 6 – Add gems or buttons
- Pick a button or gem and glue/stick it to the center of your flower.
Step 7 – Add leaves (optional).
1. Cut small triangular shaped pieces of green paper and glue them onto your flower stems. You can add 2 or more leaves to each flower.
Step 8 – Enjoy and share
If you create this flower craft with your kids or students, please let me know! I’d love to add your creations to our gallery, so upload your photos or send them directly to me at: [email protected] Thank you!
You can also tag us if you post your masterpieces on Instagram or Facebook.
We have several other activities that you and your kids will also love:
Looking for even more Zentangle activities? You might be interested in our Zentangle Paper Globes. Click HERE or on the image below to learn more.
If you love zentangles as much as we do, you’re going to love our zentangle pyramid activity. Click HERE to check it out or click on the images below.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for more activities designed to encourage mindfulness and spark creativity, check out my printable resources below or visit my shop!
Here are some other mindfulness activities that you’re going to love:
Don’t forget to download our free 15 page Mindfulness coloring book to help add a few mindful moments to your child’s day. Just click here or the image below!
